The New Kidney Diet - Can It Reverse Kidney Disease?

If you have kidney problems, you already have heard of the kidney diet - reducing the intake of sodium and potassium and at the same time reducing protein intake to a minimum. This type of diet is nothing new. The new diet was discovered recently, by a former kidney disease nurse, and has already shown great potential - anyone can apply it easily and quickly, and it is extremely effective in reversing the disease, regardless of the stage, without the need to be put on dialysis or have a new kidney transplanted. Read on to learn more!

Of course, the basics still hold true - you should ingest less potassium and sodium, and keep protein intake low. However, the new diet does something else, aside from that - it actually reverses the disease. How can that happen? Well, the kidneys have a very specific type of cellular wall, which your body can quickly repair. However, the problem is that your body is not aware of the fact, that there is damage to be repaired - that's what the diet takes care of first. Then, we must supply your body with the amino-acids, proteins and vitamins, so that it has the proper chemicals in order to reverse the disease. All of this sounds complex, but it is actually combined very simply into the kidney diet, which anyone can immediately apply at home, in order to eliminate the disease.

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Is the new kidney diet a 100% sure way to eliminate kidney disease? No, but it is currently the closest thing to a magic pill that physically exist - when it comes to eliminating kidney disease, that is. That's why anyone who is suffering from kidney disease, regardless of the stage, should immediately apply it, before even thinking about more complex methods of dealing with the disease - dialysis, or kidney transplants. People with chronic kidney disease, can especially benefit from the kidney diet, as the results can be seen very quickly!

The New Kidney Diet - Can It Reverse Kidney Disease?

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Kidney Disease in Cats - Is it Curable?

If your cat has been diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (also known as CRF), you may be wondering if your cat can survive or be cured? The unfortunate truth is that kidneys do not regenerate and by the time we see symptoms, a large amount of the kidney mass is lost. Although kidney disease in cats cannot be cured, there are measures you can take to slow down this progressive disease and give your cat more quality time.

disease proof your child

How much time? That will depend largely on how quickly you catch the disease and how aggressively your react. The more progressed the disease is, the less effect your actions will have. Some benefit can be achieved at any stage of the disease because it can make your cat more comfortable - and possibly extend their life. Many cats have lived for years after being diagnosed with kidney disease.

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What steps should you take? Helping your cat cope with kidney disease is relatively easy and involves four basic steps.

1. Make dietary changes. This does not necessarily mean restricting protein. Previously it was believed that feeding a low protein diet was the first line of defense. Newer research has shown that restricting protein too early in the disease cycle may actually accelerate kidney decline. Now the focus is on feeding high quality protein and limiting foods that are high in phosphorous.

2. Provide key, targeted supplements. Fish oils, digestive enzymes, probiotics and bioflavonoids work together to reduce kidney load, eliminate toxins and protect the remaining kidney tissue. The is a crucial step in slowing the advance of kidney disease.

3. Ensure proper hydration. Making sure you cat takes in enough water to keep the kidneys flushed is extremely important. In the early stages, a water fountain may provide enough enticement to drink enough on their own. In the later stages of the disease it may be necessary to hydrate with subcutaneous fluids, which are administered with a needle under the skin. Most cats tolerate this well and it can be done at home.

4. Healthy lifestyle choices are also important. Practical considerations like eliminating exposure to toxic substances, skipping unnecessary vaccines, reducing stress and encouraging exercise are among the changes you will need to give your cat the best chance possible.

The bottom line: It is always worth trying to help your cat live a higher quality life with this disease, no matter what stage they are in. You don't have to accept the diagnosis as a death sentence. Take action now. Your cat is depending on you.

Kidney Disease in Cats - Is it Curable?

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Chronic Kidney Disease - Prevent Loss of Kidney Function Before It's Too Late

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) or chronic renal disease is a silent but potentially deadly disease that's non-discriminating and can strike anyone at any time because of its affinity for going months or even years undetected. It often goes unchecked because the individual is unaware of the subtle symptoms of the disease until it's too late and the kidneys are in end-stage renal disease (ESRD). End-stage renal disease is characterized by a 90% loss of kidney function - and once diagnosed, the only life-saving remedy is a kidney transplant or permanent kidney dialysis.

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Causes of CKD

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The most common causes of CKD are diabetic nephropathy, hypertension and glomerulonephritis. Together, they contribute to 75% of all cases of chronic kidney disease.

Symptoms of CKD

Chronic kidney disease symptoms often mimic other illnesses like fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue and the flu. Feeling tired and weak, a loss of appetite, difficulty sleeping, difficulty concentrating, unexplained nausea and a swelling in the feet and ankles are just a few of the symptoms of this disease. Besides a general feeling of being unwell, advanced kidney disease sufferers experience accelerated atherosclerosis, accelerated bone loss (loss of calcium and phosphorus), and are more likely to develop cardiovascular disease than the general population. Patients afflicted with chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular disease tend to have significantly worse prognoses than those suffering only from the latter.

Risk factors

Risk factors for chronic kidney disease are high blood pressure, diabetes, polycystic kidney disease (PKD) and having a close relative or family member with the disease.

What you can do

Self-vigilance and education are vital to maintaining kidney health and keeping chronic kidney disease in check. Just a few of the things you can do to avoid kidney disease and keep your kidneys healthy is to invest in early detection - request a regular urinalysis and blood test through your family doctor (protein and serum creatinine can be detected in early tests), and also work to lower your triglyceride and cholesterol levels, because triglycerides are a fat and fats make kidney mobility more difficult.

You can be proactive and seek out qualified renal specialists who, by analyzing your blood, fluid (urine) and kidneys (x-rays, imaging, etc.), can advise and recommend alternative preventative treatments to keep your kidneys happy and healthy.

Chronic Kidney Disease - Prevent Loss of Kidney Function Before It's Too Late

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Types of Kidney Disease

Our kidneys are very important to us. Without actively functioning kidneys, the presence of kidney disease can be devastating for a person. In the worst case scenario, an individual will need to be on dialysis or receive a kidney transplant to replace the diseased kidneys.

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There are several different types of kidney disease, some of which are worse than others. Kidney disease can be "acute", meaning it is of a fast onset or "chronic" meaning the decline in kidney function is slow. Both kinds of kidney disease can be due to autoimmune disorders, toxins, medications or infections. Diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure can gradually worsen the function of the kidneys.

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Another classification of kidney disease occurs when the kidneys leak out certain body fluids or substances. One of these diseases is hematuria or blood in the urine. This can come from sickened kidneys that leak out blood cells from the capillaries in the kidneys. The other is fairly common and is called proteinuria. Proteinuria is when protein, mostly albumin, leaks out from the body. This can become so great that there is not enough protein in the blood of the rest of the body. We need our protein to keep the fluid in the blood vessels and without it, fluid leaks out into the tissues all over the body. This condition is known as "nephrotic syndrome".

The presence of kidney stones is another kidney disease. This can occur when a person secretes too much calcium oxalate into the urine and doesn't drink enough water. Uric acid can cause kidney stones as well. The calcium oxalate or the uric acid builds up in the urinary area of the kidneys and precipitates into a stone that, if passed, becomes very painful. Kidney stones do not fit well in the ureters and they get stuck, causing a back of urine and extreme pain. Infections can occur with kidney stones as well.

Hypertension can cause kidney disease or, in some cases, the medications that treat hypertension (high blood pressure) can cause kidney problems. In some cases, a person has a blockage of one or both arteries leading to the kidneys. The kidneys respond by releasing vasopressin which causes the blood pressure to rise remarkably. There are specific blood pressure medications that address this problem. In some cases, surgery to correct the blockage may need to be done.

Chronic pyelonephritis is another kidney disease. This is a condition where infection seeds into the kidneys (one or both) and causes chronic pain and inflammation in the kidneys. Hematuria can result from this type of kidney infection.

There is one primary kidney disease which is cancerous. Renal cell carcinoma is a type of kidney disease that can occur spontaneously. The cancer can cause pain or bleeding in the area of the kidneys. A CT scan of the abdomen can detect this form of kidney disease. Often, if the cancer doesn't extend beyond the outer capsule of the kidney, the kidney can be removed and the cancer is highly treatable.

Kidney disease can be hereditary. There are a number of rare hereditary kidney diseases that result in leakage of blood or protein from the kidneys. These diseases can sometimes be managed medically but, in other cases, dialysis or kidney transplant are necessary to cure the underlying problem.

Types of Kidney Disease

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Causes of Kidney Disease

Kidney disease is quite a danger to your overall health due to the role your kidneys play in a wide range of important bodily functions. Damage typically develops gradually over a long period of time. Just one kidney may be affected, but generally, damage occurs in both.

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Symptoms often don't appear until it has progressed to a dangerous stage. In fact, kidneys can keep working when only 15 percent of normal function remains, and there will be few symptoms that anything serious is wrong.

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The Most Common Causes of Kidney Disease

Kidney disease is more likely to take place in the following situations.

Diabetes In diabetes cases, the human body doesn't use glucose, or sugar, the way it should. When this happens, glucose begins to act like a toxin, causing the kidneys to work harder. As they strain, the natural filters in the kidneys become more porous. This allows toxins and wastes to stay in the body, creating a cycle of damage that may result in kidney failure. Anyone who has kidney failure must either have dialysis or a kidney transplant.

Plainly, kidney disease can be a very dangerous problem for anyone who has diabetes.

High blood pressure, which is also called as hypertension. High blood pressure puts excess force on cells and tissues as blood comes through. This lowers function and efficiency by the kidneys as a whole.

Family History When it comes to having kidney problems, genes seem to matter. If a lot of people in your family have had kidney trouble, you are probably at higher risk of having it too.

Foods You Eat What you eat can make a big difference in kidney health. If your daily diet includes an abundance of meat and protein, your chance of having kidney disease is above average.

SaltThe amount of sodium (salt) in your diet also matters. While it's true that you need salt, eating too much of it is dangerous for your kidneys. And remember, salt not only comes from the salt shaker at the family dinner table, but also exists in copious amounts in processed dinner mixes, potato chips, salted nut snacks, cold cuts, many kinds of cheese, canned and instant or dehydrated soups, canned vegetables and bacon.

Anyone who is seriously concerned about kidney health and avoiding kidney disease will want to keep the foods listed above to a minimum.

Causes of Kidney Disease

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Kidney Disorder - Polycystic Kidney Disease

PKD or a kidney disorder with multiple cyts is a kidney disorder which is progressive. This syndrome happens in people as well as in animals. The main characteristics of this disease are multiple cysts in both the kidneys and this is why it is referred to as polycystic. The liver and the pancreas can be damaged with this disease. There are two types of this kidney disease which is polycystic; these are autosomal dominant (ADPKD) and autosomal recessive (ESRD).

In autosomal dominant PKD the disease progresses with the kidneys getting enlarged and multiple cysts developing, which affects the renal functions causes renal insufficiency, pain in the renal areas and hypertension. Most persons affected with this disease have renal disease which is at an end stage by the time they are 60 years of age. Those suffering with ADPKD have cysts developing in most of the organs like if the cysts develop in the liver this leads to cirrhosis of the liver, the pancreas, seminal vesicles, intracranial aneurysms, prolapse of the mitral valve and thoracic aorta. Hernias in the walls of the abdomen occur.

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The renal problems lead to sever infections of the urinary tract which finally brings on total renal failure which is an end stage disease of the kidneys. The patient then has to be put on dialysis.

ARPKD or Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease is rarer than autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease and appears in early infancy or even at birth. This is a fatal disease and the life of such infants is very short in fact not more than a month.

ARPKD is found much less than the ADPKD type and often proves fatal during the initial period of life. The symptoms of this condition are usually seen at birth or during early childhood.

Kidney Disorder - Polycystic Kidney Disease

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Kidney Infections Require Immediate Treatment

Pyelonephritis is the medical term for kidney infections. It leads to sever complications that affect the day to day activities. Hence, the patient undergoes sever pain during the disease. It is mainly found among women due to their anatomy which makes them susceptible to the infections.

The infection occurs due to presence of kidney stones or kidney abnormalities. These factors hamper the functioning of kidneys that transport the urine to the urinary bladder through the ureters. Hence, the decreased activity initiates the formation of bacterial microbes that worsen the situation.

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It can also occur as an after effect of bladder infections. Sometimes, the doctors fail to cure bladder syndrome, hence the bacterium creeps to the kidneys and leads to kidney infections. Initially, the bacterium resides in the bowel and moves to the urinary tract due to improper toilet hygiene.

This infectious disease leads to severe fatigue and illness. The patient is unable to work for long hours or conduct his day to day activities. Moreover, one can experience sever pain while passing the urine. Sometimes, the pain is unbearable and accompanied with blood or pus in urine. However, the symptoms may vary from person to person.

Hence, it is necessary to undergo treatment to heal the disease. The patient is asked to undergo a urinalysis or urine culture to detect the exact cause behind the infection. These tests detect the bacterium responsible for the kidney infections. Hence, the doctor should subscribe a suitable medicine for the treatment of the disease.

Usually, an antibiotic medicine is recommended for the infectious disease. A patient suffering from the Kidney Infections is asked to maintain proper hygiene and drink adequate water for proper functioning of urinary tract. So, undergo proper treatment so that the infection doesn't damages your kidneys or lead to kidney scarring.

Kidney Infections Require Immediate Treatment

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Chronic Kidney Disease (Chronic Renal Failure/End Stage Renal Disease) And Its Dietary Management

End stage renal disease (ESRD) occurs when chronic kidney disease worsens to the point at which kidney function is less than 10% of normal. The kidneys fail to function at a level needed for day-to-day life. Kidneys main function is to remove wastes and excess of water from the body, which gets accumulated in renal failure leading to toxicity. The treatment includes kidney transplant or dialysis with dietary management.

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ESRD always follows a chronic kidney disease; the most common cause is diabetes and high blood pressure. Other causes are -

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1. Diseases affecting arteries reaching or leaving the kidneys.
2. Congenital abnormalities of kidneys
3. Polycystic kidney disease
4. Too much abuse of pain medications or other drugs
5. Toxic chemicals
6. Autoimmune disorders like systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), scleroderma
7. Injury
8. Glomerulonephritis
9. Kidney stones and secondary infections
10. Reflux nephropathy
11. Various other kidney diseases

Symptoms include -

1. General ill feeling and fatigue
2. Pruritis (itching) and dry skin
3. Weight loss without effort
4. Headache
5. Loss of appetite
6. Nausea and vomiting
7. Swelling
8. Bone pains
9. Bad breath
10. Abnormally dark skin
11. Changes in nails
12. Bleeding easily - bruises, nosebleed, blood in stool
13. Impotence
14. Restless leg syndrome
15. Sleeplessness
16. Excessive thirst
17. Frequent hiccups
18. Amenorrhea
19. Drowsy and confused state
20. Cannot concentrate or think clearly
21. Numbness in different parts of the body
22. Cramps or twitching of muscles.
23. Abnormal health and lung sounds
24. Diminished or no urine production

ESRD leads to buildup of waste products and fluid in the body, which affects most body systems and functions, including, blood pressure control, red blood cell production, electrolyte balance, vitamin D and calcium levels and thus bone health. Hence the patient on dialysis needs to undergo various tests often to manage the condition -

1. Sodium
2. Potassium
3. Phosphorus
4. Calcium
5. Magnesium
6. Albumin
7. Cholesterol
8. Electrolyte
9. Complete blood count (CBC)
10. Erythropoietin
11. Parathyroid hormone (PTH)
12. Bone density test

Treatment and management -

Management and treatment of ESRD includes kidney transplant or dialysis and dietary management, it is essential for the patient to know and understand everything about the treatment especially about dialysis and its types.

Why dialysis - dialysis helps to remove and maintain waste products, fluid and the electrolyte balance in the body. A special diet is important as dialysis alone does not effectively remove all the waste products. And dietary management also helps minimize the amount of waste build up and to maintain the fluid, electrolyte and mineral balance in the body between the dialysis.

One needs to do lots of changes in their diet -

ESRD patients need high protein, low sodium, potassium and phosphorus diet and a restricted fluid intake. Lets consider each in little details -

Fluid -

Urine out put drops during kidney failure. Most dialysis patients urinate very little or not at all, and therefore fluid restriction between treatments is very important. Without urination, fluid will build up in the body and cause excess fluid in the heart, lungs, and ankles.

Your nutritionist will calculate the daily required amount of fluid on the basis of -
• The amount of urine output in 24 hours
• The amount of weight gain between the dialysis treatment
• Amount of fluid retention
• Levels of dietary sodium
• Whether you are suffering from congestive heart failure.

Tips -
• Avoid or minimize eating food with too much of water like - soups, jell-o, popsicles, ice creams, grapes, melons, palm fruit, coconut water, lettuce, tomatoes and celery.
• Use smaller glasses.
• Take sips of water
• Minimize sodium intake. Avoid salty food
• Freeze juices in an ice tray and suck them to minimize thirst (do count these ice cubes in your daily fluid intake)
• Avoid getting too hot, going out in sun.

Sodium balance -

As said above ESRD patient need to avoid high sodium diet. Hypertension in ESRD is mostly due to positive sodium balance and volume expansion (accumulation of too much of fluid in the body). ESRD patients on dialysis can effectively treat or control hypertension without antihypertensive drugs just by having a low sodium diet (2 g/day). Also low sodium diet will make you feel less thirsty and thus help avoid gulping extra fluids.

Tips -
• Avoid - canned, processed food, processed smoked meat.
• Avoid food with salt topping viz - chips, nuts etc.
• Read labels carefully - select one that reads - low sodium, no salt added, sodium free, unsalted.
• Avoid foods that list salt near the beginning of the ingredient list.
• Choose food which contains salt less than 100 mg per serving.
• Remove salt shaker from the table.
• Cook food without salt instead use herbs for flavoring.
• Avoid preserved foods - ketchups, sauces, pickles, popadums
• Do not use salt substitutes, they contain potassium. And potassium is also restricted in kidney disease.

Potassium balance -

Normally a high potassium diet is recommended to control hypertension and thus minimize the risk of stroke and heart failure, but in case of ESRD, they cannot tolerate high potassium diet as they cannot excrete potassium from their body. High potassium levels in blood will lead to life threatening hyperkalemia induced arrhythmia.

Tips -

• Avoid fruits high in potassium - banana, musk melons, cantaloupes, kiwis, honeydew, prunes, nectarines, coconut water, tomatoes, avocado, oranges and orange juice, raisins and dried fruits.
• Have fruits like - peaches, grapes, pears, cherries, apples, berries, pineapple, plums, tangerines and watermelon.
• Avoid vegetables high in potassium - spinach, pumpkin, winter squash, sweet potato, potatoes, asparagus.
• Choose vegetables like - broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, cucumber, eggplant (aubergine/brinjal), green and waxed beans, lettuce, onion, peppers, watercress, zucchini and yellow squash.
• Avoid legumes, milk and bran cereal.
• Limit intake of potassium up to 2 gm per day.

Iron -

Patients with ESRD will also need extra iron.

Tip -
• Consume food high in iron levels - lima and kidney beans, beet root, green leafy vegetables (avoid spinach), finger millet, chicken, liver, pork.
• Eat iron fortified cereals
• Take iron supplements as advised by your physician or dietician.

Calcium and phosphorus -

In ESRD phosphorous levels are high as it cannot be excreted from our body. Even in early stages of renal disease, phosphorus levels can become too high. High phosphorus levels will lead to itching, vascular calcifications, secondary hyperparathyroidism and low calcium levels. Thus the calcium deposited in the bones is used up leading to osteoporosis. Hence a phosphate restricted diet is recommended.

Tips -
• Limit intake of dairy foods - milk, yogurt and cheese.
• Can consume dairy products like - margarine, butter, cream cheese, full fat cream, brie cheese, and sherbet as they are low in phosphorus.
• Consult your dietician and take calcium and vitamin D supplement, helps control calcium phosphate levels.
• Avoid caned processed food.

If phosphorus levels are not managed with diet, your physician may prescribe you phosphorus binders.

Weight Management -

ESRD patient's loose weight without any reason, thus their weight needs to be monitored and managed with proper balanced diet. ESRD patients average calorie intake reduces to lower than 30-35 kcal/kg/day leading to malnutrition. To prevent malnutrition related morbidity and mortality, ESRD patients on dialysis need to undergo a periodic nutrition screening and tests, comparing initials body weight with usual and ideal body weight, dietary reviews, and food diary assessment.

Protein -

You must be confused when I say ESRD patients need high protein, as most known fact is patients with renal diseases should limit their protein intake. True as when protein breaks down in our body urea is formed this cannot be excreted in urine and is toxic when it builds up in the blood stream. This limited protein diet is until patient is put on dialysis. As protein losses are higher in patients undergoing dialysis, they need to consume a high protein diet. Recommended dietary protein in hemodialysis patients is 1.2 g/kg body weight/day and 1.2-1.3 g/kg body weight /day for patients on peritoneal dialysis. If dietary protein - calorie intake is not adequate, patients should take dietary supplements under the guidance of a nutritionist, and if required they should be tube feed or parenteral nutrition should be provided.

Tips -

• Eat high quality protein - fish, pork, eggs, kidney beans, Bengal gram, and soy for every meal.
• Add egg white or egg white powder or protein powder to your diet.

Carbohydrates -

If you are overweight and have diabetes, then you have to limit your carbohydrate intake, however if you are losing weight you need to take high carbohydrate diet. As carbohydrates are good source of energy. Your physician or dietician will recommended the amount of carbs required in your diet.

Tips -

• Include - fruits, vegetables, breads and grains, as they are high in fiber, minerals, vitamins and a good source of energy.
• If you are advised a high calorie diet, consume - hard candies, sugar, honey, jelly, pies, cakes, cookies.
• Avoid desserts made from dairy, chocolate, nuts and bananas.

Fats -

ESRD patients on dialysis are recommended to limit intake of saturated fats and cholesterol as they are at high risk of developing coronary artery disease. They mostly have high triglyceride levels, high LDL (low density lipoproteins) and low HDL (high density lipoproteins). Though you are recommended to eat a high calorie diet, you need to avoid foods that raise your triglycerides and cholesterol levels

Tips -
• Include foods that are high in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats and little of saturated fats. Like - sesame seed oil, flaxseeds, olive oil, and cotton seed oil.
• Avoid canola oil, coconut oil, fats, poultry and chicken with skin.

Micronutrients -

ESRDS patients are recommended to have low fat diet and restricted fluid intake. Thus many patients need to take a vitamin supplement as fat soluble (A, D, E and K) vitamins and water soluble vitamins cannot be absorbed adequately form the diet and water soluble vitamins are also lost during dialysis treatment. Mostly these vitamins are given through vein during the dialysis treatment.

To manage all the above nutrients in the right quantity to suit your needs is not an easy task and it cannot be done own your own. DO NOT SELF DIET it can risk your health. This article is for your information and knowledge. Consult a nutritionist who can design a diet fit for your special needs. Always take your family along to understand your dietary needs so they can help you follow your diet. If you follow proper diet and physical activity as recommended by your physician and your nutritionist will help you feel good and lead a relatively healthy life with the ESRD.

Chronic Kidney Disease (Chronic Renal Failure/End Stage Renal Disease) And Its Dietary Management

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